Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) works of art and  (c) new vehicles in each of the last two years.

Chris Mole: The information requested for the Department for Transport and its seven executive agencies is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   (a) New furnishings  (b) Art  (c) New vehicles 
			  Organisational unit  2008-09  2007-08  2008-09  2007-08  2008-09  2007-08 
			  Central Department   
			 London Headquarters 287,683 504,646 1,162 0 0 0 
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch 18,374 26,529 0 0 0 0 
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch 962 11,543 0 0 0 0 
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch 823 103,878 0 0 0 0 
			
			 Driving Standards Agency (1)- (1)- 0 0 150,860 103,000 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (2)- (2)- 0 0 0 0 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (1)- (1)- 0 0 1,315,000 1,004,000 
			 Highways Agency 259,820 1,799,366 0 0 (3)18,983.687 (3)624,832 
			  (4)3,117,871 (4)2,382,303 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (1)- (1)- 0 0 837,619 1,197,629 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 8,599 6,329 0 0 0 13,915 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 98,920 164,179 0 0 1,273,850 676,490 
			 (1)( )Data not recorded as a specific cost category within the accounting system in use and only available at disproportionate cost.  (2)( )During 2007 to 2009 DVLA was in the process of refurbishing its Morriston site under a PFI contract. DVLA are unable to accurately provide a breakdown of the furnishing costs.  (3)( )Purchased.  (4)( )Leased.   Note:   The Highways Agency: Data at  (a) include furniture, office refurbishments and fit-out costs for offices and regional control centres. The increase in the 2008-09 vehicle purchase costs is due to the Highways Agency entering into a four-year framework contract on 2 January 2008 with two suppliers; Romaquip and Schmidt UK, for the purchase of over 430 salt spreaders and snow ploughs to replace its current fleet. The costs for 2008-09 relate to the first-year order comprising of a total of 159 salt spreaders, all equipped with snow ploughs, and a further 40 additional snow ploughs. The vehicles used by Highways Agency Traffic Officers are leased. The figures quoted are the total cost of the vehicle leasing contracts for each of the two years. Leasing payments cover the cost of the vehicles, servicing, maintenance, tyres and windscreens, etc. Most vehicles are leased for 18 months, or 150,000 miles. There are now 207 Traffic Officer Vehicles in the fleet.